Around Philly & Atlantic City
Philadelphia to Atlantic City, both offer a good choice of public golf courses and private clubs. Philly's Glen Mills golf course is one of Pennsylvania's best, a championship layout with a number of challenging holes. Atlantic City is home to a number of top-rated public golf courses, all well-maintained open layouts that don't disappoint. They include Vineyard Golf's fast and challenging greens (plus its resort's winery tours) and the popular Sand Barrens Golf Club.
Private club
Philadelphia
Current design by Donald Ross (1926); modifications by William Gordon (1950s), Dick Wilson, George Fazio and Robert Trent Jones Sr (1985), Ron Prichard (2003) and Gil Hanse (2017).
Private club
Atlantic City
Original design by John Reid (1897); remodelled over the years by Willie Park Jr (1915), William S. Flynn (1925) and Tom Doak (1999).
Visitors welcome
Atlantic City
Dan Schlegel (of Ault, Clark & Associates).
Visitors welcome
Philadelphia
Rees Jones
Visitors welcome
Philadelphia
Mark A. Mungeam (of Cornish, Silva & Mungeam, Inc.) designed the North course (1998) and South course (2002).
Visitors welcome
New York City
Mark A. Mungeam (of Cornish, Silva & Mungeam, Inc.).
Private club
Atlantic City
Tom Fazio
Visitors welcome
Philadelphia
Bobby Weed
Private club
Atlantic City
Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw.
Visitors welcome
New York City
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Private club
Philadelphia
Current layout designed by William S. Flynn (1928).
Visitors welcome
Atlantic City
Ray Hearn
Private club
Philadelphia
Hugh Irvine Wilson designed both Merion's East course (1912) and West course (1914).
Visitors welcome
New York City
Hurdzan/Fry Design (Dr Michael J. Hurdzan & Dana Fry).
Private club
Philadelphia
Albert W. Tillinghast designed the Wissahickon course (1922). Tillinghast's original layout has only undergone minimal changes since. Militia Hill courses designed by Dr Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry (1999).
Private club
Philadelphia
George Arthur Crump (Philadelphian hotelier and Pine Valley's founder) and Harry Colt. The extent of Colt's input is much debated, but would seem to have been significant in terms of the detailed design of each hole, not least the bunkering and green complexes. The feared par-3 5th and 10th holes are among several fully attributed to Colt.
Visitors welcome
New York City
Steve Smyers
Private club
Allentown
Old course: original design by Herbert Strong (1921), with later renovations by Perry Maxwell (1943) and Tom Fazio (2008).
Grace course: designed by William & David Gordon (1957).
Weyhill course: designed by William & David Gordon (1968), with later revisions by Tom Fazio (2010).
Visitors welcome
Philadelphia
Stephen Kay
Visitors welcome
Atlantic City
Original design by Hugh Wilson & Donald Ross (1914); renovated by Bob Cupp (1998, 2006).
Visitors welcome
Atlantic City
Original nine holes designed by William S. Flynn, with construction supervised by Howard C. Toomey (1927). Extension to 18-holes and updating of original nine by William Gordon (1957).
Visitors welcome
Atlantic City
Ronald Fream & David Dale of Golfplan.
Visitors welcome
Philadelphia
Tom Fazio
Visitors welcome
Philadelphia
Edward M. (Ed) Beidel Jr.
Visitors welcome
Atlantic City
Archie Struthers
Private club
Atlantic City
Original design by Hurdzan/Fry Design (1997; lead designer Dana Fry); major renovation by Fry/Straka design (Dana Fry & Jason Straka) (2019/20).
Visitors welcome
Atlantic City
Ed Shearon
Visitors welcome
Philadelphia
Brian Ault (of Ault, Clark and Associates)
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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